text: His contribution included the use of acoustics, specifically Ultrasonic Time-Domain reflectometry (UDTR) for real-time investigation of solvent resistant polymeric membranes behaviors under compaction or swelling in organic environment.
  Anim-Mensah used this already known UDTR technique for real-time studying of these specific polymeric membranes mechanical behavior while permeated during separation. The UDTR technique allowed correlating real-time polymeric membrane behaviors especially to their compaction and/or swelling characteristics to their performance which he defined a membrane dimensionless number β as the logarithmic of the ratio of swelling to compaction (i.e. β = log (Ls/Lc)) as important parameter underlying many polymeric membranes performance in organic solvent separation. The swelling obtained from the real-time swelling (Ls) data while membrane is not permeated and allowed to swell until steady state and the compaction (Lc) data obtained in real-time when the swollen membrane is compacted during permeation under a transmembrane pressure. This swelling and compaction data as well as the ratio provides some insight in understanding these membranes performances as well as being helpful in the design and selection of polymeric membranes and their solvent for optimum separation performance in the organic solvent environment.
  Anim-Mensah is involved in some thirty (30) inventions secured by US and international patents in areas including sensing, energy recovery, improved chemical & water use efficiencies, refrigeration & heat pumps, optimization, process & product improvements, waste minimization, and environmental impacts reduction.
  In 2019, he was a recipient of the Illinois Tool Works Distinguished Patent Fellow Award  He has co-written two books and some technical papers in the area of membrane science and technology  In his book Prediction of Polymeric Membrane Separation and Purification Performances he showed mathematically how the logarithm of ratio of membrane swelling (Ls) and compaction (Lc) measured in real-time correlated well with the membrane performance data (i.e. rejection) provided some insights.